Air Force General Mysteriously Disappears After UFO Sighting in New Mexico
mystery
Express newspaper
05/03/2026 23:08
New details have emerged regarding the disappearance of a retired US Air Force general, following a report of a possible sighting near a popular trail in New Mexico.
William Neil McCasland, 68, was last seen around 11 a.m. Friday near Quail Run Court NE in Albuquerque, according to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.
Friends say McCasland left the house without a watch or phone, which is unusual for this hiking and biking enthusiast. They mention that he had just completed a 60-mile bike ride and was a frequent user of the La Luz Trail and surrounding trail networks.
A woman on Facebook, who said she had reported the information to authorities, claimed she may have seen someone matching McCasland’s description around the same time he disappeared near the start of the Whitewash Trail in Piedra Lisa Canyon.
In a post to the Albuquerque Trail Running Crew group, the woman, Mj Davis, said the man was standing on the side near a bridge over the arroyo at the beginning of the trail.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), which is leading the search, later responded in the same post, reminding users to report any information directly to investigators, but did not publicly deny the reported sighting.
McCasland’s wife, Susan, posted on Facebook that he disappeared at noon Friday and there has been no sign of him since. “There does not appear to have been any criminal activity,” she added.
A veteran of Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, McCasland previously headed the Phillips Research Site and the Air Force Research Laboratory in Wright-Patterson, Ohio. Some UFO enthusiasts have linked the facilities to secret studies of advanced aircraft technology and unexplained phenomena, though officials say they focus on national security and defense experimental projects.
New Mexico Search and Rescue told the Daily Mail that crews were “engaged in a mission to search for him in the Albuquerque Open Space area from Sunday into Monday.”
Many of McCasland’s friends have shared details about the retired general online, noting that he is physically strong and experienced in outdoor activities. His Facebook page is filled with photos of him skiing and hiking in the mountains of New Mexico.
However, BCSO issued a Silver Alert, a public notice to help locate people who are elderly or have certain medical conditions, shortly after McCasland’s disappearance. “Due to his medical issues, authorities are concerned for his safety,” the office said.
The Daily Mail contacted the BCSO and referred to a statement released on Tuesday, which says it is coordinating with partners at Kirtland Air Force Base to expand the operation and expedite the sharing of information that could help find him.
Sheriff John Allen said: “Our priority is to find Mr. McCasland safely. Investigators and search teams are working around the clock, and we are coordinating closely with our local, state and federal partners. We are asking the public to assist by reviewing and preserving any security footage and reporting any information immediately.”
The FBI told the Daily Mail on Monday that they are also involved in the search, but that the Sheriff’s Office is leading the operation. A spokesperson said: “The FBI’s Albuquerque office is part of this investigation, as is standard practice to assist local law enforcement partners when we have tools, tactics or techniques that may assist their investigations. The BCSO is leading this investigation.”
Colonel Justin Secrest, commander of the 377th Air Base Wing in Kirtland, told the Albuquerque Journal that the base is working closely with local authorities to coordinate. /GazetaExpress/